Wireless lan setting system in an image forming apparatus, and a wireless lan setting method

ABSTRACT

A wireless LAN setting system mounted on an image forming apparatus that performs network connection through a wireless LAN and used for performing wireless communication with plural terminals, the wireless LAN setting system including a mode for checking, before setting is performed, existing setting contents (setting items and setting states) presently set. Guide indications are attached to respective setting screens. With the wireless LAN setting system, proper determination is performed and setting operation is correctly performed even if a user (an administrator) does not have professional knowledge.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a Continuation of application Ser. No. 11/867,319filed Oct. 4, 2007, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporatedherein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a user interface for setting a wirelessLAN function installed in an image forming apparatus.

2. Description of the Related Art

In recent years, there are an increasing number of users who use aso-called wireless LAN (Local Area Network) for performing communicationamong plural information terminals in a small area such as in a buildingand an ordinary house, storing data, and performing wirelesscommunication with a server connected to an external network such as theInternet. In this wireless LAN, it is unnecessary to lay wiring forcommunication (wire) to the information terminals and, if a wirelessfunction is given to the information terminals, it is possible toperform communication with wireless stations (access points) from freelocations in a communication area.

Various settings are applied to these wireless stations such that aprotocol for causing the wireless stations to perform communication isestablished. Setting of security is also important to preventcommunication content from leaking to the outside and prevent intrusionfrom the outside. For example, JP-A-2005-176099 discloses a techniqueconcerning a method of performing necessary setting in order to realizewireless connection.

As settings for a general wireless LAN, a large number of settings suchas a setting of an SSID, a setting of an authentication system forsecurity, and a type setting for a security network of a wireless systemare performed. In a general personal computer, in most cases, setting iscompleted by a dealer when a user purchases the personal computer and,for example, setting is performed in accordance with an input guide by aprogram attached to a communication apparatus or the like. In this inputguide, since setting is indicated in detail by pictures and sentencesdisplayed on a screen, a general user can complete the setting if theuser performs input as indicated and a setting screen proceeds even whenthe user does not have the knowledge what is to be inputted. Wrong inputis often checked by the program.

Display screens provided in order to display certain limited informationof a facsimile, a printer apparatus, and the like in the past have smallscreen sizes and are originally designed to be used for limitedapplications. Thus, unlike a screen of a display device of a personalcomputer, the display screens cannot display various kinds ofinformation. Therefore, on a GUI screen for causing the user to performsetting for the wireless LAN, setting operation by selected display alsoused for other display items or simplified display is performed. Inparticular, it is not easy to set necessary setting items concerningrespective authentication systems in a short time and properly bydetermining presence or absence of setting, selection of setting items,and the like unless the user has high degree of background knowledge inadvance.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An embodiment according to the present invention provides a wireless LANsetting system mounted on an image forming apparatus with which a usercan properly input necessary setting items even if the user does nothave high degree of background knowledge.

An embodiment according to the present invention provides a wireless LANsetting system mounted on an image forming apparatus that performsnetwork connection through a wireless LAN and used for performingwireless communication with plural terminals. The wireless LAN settingsystem has an existing setting check mode for checking, prior toperforming wireless LAN setting, contents already set in the imageforming apparatus, a network type selection mode for selecting a networkused for the wireless communication, an SSID setting mode forestablishing a predetermined protocol between the image formingapparatus and the plural terminals in the wireless communication, and asecurity mode for applying encoding to information to be communicatedand performing wireless communication using a selected encryptionsystem.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram conceptually showing an example of the structure ofa wireless LAN setting system mounted on an image forming apparatusaccording to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a former half of a flowchart for explaining setting operationin the wireless LAN setting system according to the embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a latter half of the flowchart for explaining settingoperation in the wireless LAN setting system according to theembodiment;

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a setting screen for anadministrator in the wireless LAN setting system;

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a screen for starting settingof a wireless LAN in the wireless LAN setting system;

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a setting screen for checkinguse of the wireless LAN in the wireless LAN setting system;

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a present setting content list screen in thewireless LAN setting system;

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a present setting content list screen in thewireless LAN setting system;

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a present setting content list screen in thewireless LAN setting system;

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a network type selection screen in thewireless LAN setting system;

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an SSID setting screen in the wireless LANsetting system;

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a NETWORK selection screen in the wirelessLAN setting system;

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a security mode setting screen in thewireless LAN setting system;

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing an example of a security setting screen atthe time when an old wireless LAN module is mounted on the wireless LANsetting system;

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing a WEE encryption screen in the wireless LANsetting system;

FIG. 16 is a diagram showing an authentication system setting screen inthe wireless LAN setting system;

FIG. 17 is a diagram showing a WPA and WPA2 encryption screen in thewireless LAN setting system;

FIG. 18 is a diagram showing an EAP account information input screen inthe wireless LAN setting system;

FIG. 19 is a diagram showing an EAP user name input screen in thewireless LAN setting system;

FIG. 20 is a diagram showing a CA certificate setting screen in thewireless LAN setting system;

FIG. 21 is a diagram showing a user certification setting screen in thewireless LAN setting system;

FIG. 22 is a diagram showing a server authentication information inputscreen in the wireless LAN setting system;

FIG. 23 is a diagram showing a selection screen for an encryption systembetween an AP and an STA in the wireless LAN setting system;

FIG. 24 is a diagram showing a setting screen for transmission power anda transmission rate in the wireless LAN setting system;

FIG. 25 is a diagram showing a transmission power setting screen in thewireless LAN setting system;

FIG. 26 is a diagram showing a wireless LAN setting confirmation screenin the wireless LAN setting system; and

FIG. 27 is a diagram showing an end screen in the wireless LAN settingsystem.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

An embodiment of the present invention will be hereinafter explained indetail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a diagram conceptually showing an example of the structure ofa wireless LAN setting system mounted on an image forming apparatusaccording to this embodiment, for example, an MFP (Multi-FunctionPeripheral) apparatus that has all of a copy function, a facsimilefunction, and a printer function. This MFP apparatus has all of the copyfunction, the facsimile function, and the printer function and can beconnected to the Internet and a wireless LAN.

A system configuration according to this embodiment is constituted by animage forming unit 1 that forms images, characters, and the like on arecording medium such as recording paper, a communication input andoutput unit 3 connected to a network (including a telephone line and anoptical cable line) 2, a storing unit 4 that stores image data, variouskinds of setting information, and programs for operations and control,an input unit 5 that inputs a setting registration and an indication bya user, a display unit 6 that displays setting items and processingstates, a control unit 7 that controls the entire system, a transmittingand receiving unit 8 for performing wireless communication or opticalcommunication, a wireless access point 9 such as a wireless routerconnected to the transmitting and receiving unit 8 and set on theoutside, and plural terminals 10 a to 10 c that the user uses.

The image forming unit 1 is constituted by an image scanning unit 11that optically scans photographs, pictures, characters, and the likeformed on a paper surface and the like, an image-data input unit 12 thatcaptures image data inputted from the outside or image data scanned bythe image scanning unit 11, an image forming unit 14 that includes alaser unit 13 for irradiating a laser beam on a not-shownphotoconductive drum and forms (records) an image on recording paper, aconveying mechanism 15 that conveys the recording paper, a paper feedingunit 16 that stores unrecorded recording paper and feeds the paper tothe conveying mechanism 15, and a storing unit (a sorter) 17 that storesrecording paper having an image recorded thereon.

The storing unit 4 is constituted by, for example, a volatile memorysuch as a RAM and a nonvolatile memory such as a ROM and has a settingprogram for performing wireless LAN setting stored therein. Settingscreen information displayed on the display unit 6 during setting isalso included in this setting program. Besides, a storing unit may beconstituted by a hard disk, a flash memory, and the like. As pluralterminals used by the user, for example, personal computers orperipheral apparatuses such as MFP apparatuses are assumed. It goeswithout saying that it is possible to apply this embodiment to wirelesscommunication among the MFP apparatuses.

In this embodiment, an example by wireless communication performed byusing the wireless access point 9 is explained. As other communicationmeans, it is also possible to use optical communication depending on anambient environment in which the wireless access point 9 is set.

Setting operation in the wireless LAN setting system according to thisembodiment is explained with reference to a flowchart shown in FIG. 2and FIG. 3 and examples of setting screens shown in FIG. 4 to FIG. 27.These setting screens are examples of screens displayed on the displayunit 6 that has a touch panel function as a part of the input unit. Itgoes without saying that, as input means, an input unit formed by apanel and a keyboard in which switches are arranged may be adoptedbesides the touch panel.

First, a setting screen for an administrator shown in FIG. 4 isdisplayed from a menu screen (step Si) This screen is a screen that apermitted person can operate and invocation of which is limited by an IDand the like. On this setting screen for an administrator, variousselection buttons, i.e., “GENERAL”, “COPY”, “FAX”, “FILE”, “E-MAIL”,“INTERNET FAX”, “LIST/REPORT”, “PRINTER/E-FILING”, “WIRELESS SETTINGS”,“BLUETOOTH SETTINGS”; “SERVICE”, and “RETURN” are displayed. When theuser touches the “WIRELESS SETTINGS” button, a screen for startingsetting of a wireless LAN shown in FIG. 5 is displayed. When a wirelessLAN device is not mounted on this image forming apparatus or when thewireless LAN device is not connected to the image forming apparatus, a“WIRELESS SETTING” portion is dimly displayed.

In this wireless LAN setting start screen, the “WIRELESS SETTING” buttonand the “SETTING CHECK” button are displayed. When the user checkscontents presently set (setting items and setting states) (step 2), theuser touches the “SETTING CHECK” button (YES). On the other hand, whenthe user performs new setting or setting change (NO), the user touchesthe “SETTING CHECK” button.

When the user selects the “SETTING CHECK” button, the wireless LANsetting system enters an existing setting check mode (step S3) in whichsetting content lists shown in FIG. 7 to FIG. 9 are displayed in order.In these drawings, when the user individually touches setting items,more detailed contents are displayed. In this existing setting checkmode, at least setting states such as a type of a security network inwhich wireless LAN communication is used, an authentication notation ofan SSID (RSSID), whether security is used, a type of informationencryption used for security, transmission power, and a transmissionrate are displayed.

When the user touches the “WIRELESS SETTINGS” button, a setting screen[Guide Indication: Perform a Wireless LAN Setting] for confirmation ofuse of the wireless LAN shown in FIG. 6 is displayed (step S4). On thisscreen, “ON” and “OFF” are displayed.

When the user touches “ON”, the use of the wireless LAN is selected.When the user touches “OFF”, the nonuse of the wireless LAN is selected.The selection of use and nonuse is provided for the purpose of stopping,when the wireless LAN is used, the wireless LAN if, for example, otherapparatuses are adversely affected by wireless transmission. Therefore,the selection is used when, for example, the use of the wireless LAN istemporarily stopped. When the user touches “OFF”, a section of “NEXT” onthe lower right of the screen is dimly displayed. Thereafter, afterperforming predetermined wireless LAN stop processing, the wireless LANsetting system shifts to, for example, a setting confirmation screen[Guide Indication: Please confirm the wireless setting] for the wirelessLAN in FIG. 26. Besides, considering that the setting is completed, thewireless LAN setting system may shift to the menu screen usually used.

When the user touches “ON”, “NEXT” is displayed on the lower right ofthe screen. When the user touches this “NEXT” button, a network typeselection screen [Guide Indication: Select Network type and Channel”shown in FIG. 10 is displayed and the wireless LAN setting system shiftsto a network type selection mode (step S5). On this network typeselection screen, an “INFRASTRUCTURE” button and an “AD HOC” button aredisplayed. When the user touches the “INFRASTRUCTURE” button, a basicsetting decided in advance is performed and “CHANNEL” is dimplydisplayed. On the other hand, when the user touches the “AD HOC” button,an individual setting for directly performing communication withterminals not through the access point 9 is selected. In the “CHANNEL”display, an “AUTO” button and a “MANUAL” button are displayed. Nearthese buttons, a “Channel” setting button for setting a channel numberto be selected is displayed.

When the user touches the “AUTO” button in the “CHANNEL” display, achannel of an AD HOC terminal already present is selected. During thissetting of “AUTO”, operation of the “Channel” setting button is notaccepted. Even when a channel is selected once, a setting to that pointis released by touching a “CANCEL” button and the screen can be returnedto the original state. When this setting of a network type is completed,the user touches the “NEXT” button and the wireless LAN setting systemshifts to the next SSID (Service Set ID) setting mode (step S6). TheSSID also includes an ESSID for extending a network identifier.

FIG. 11 is an example of display of an SSID setting screen [GuideIndication: Type SSID directly or current available network from“AVAILABLE NETWORK” menu]. This SSID is set in order to preventcrosstalk during wireless communication between plural terminals and anaccess point. In this SSID setting screen, the same ID is set for aterminal that performs communication and the access point 9 that isconnected to an apparatus main body. In the SSID setting in thisembodiment, the user touches an “AVAILABLE NETWORK” button displayed inthe SSID setting screen. A NETWORK selection screen [Guide Indication:Select one Access] shown in FIG. 12 is displayed by this touch. In thisscreen, a list of wireless networks presently in use is displayed as atable. In this example, besides “SSID”, “Wireless Mode”, “Channel”, and“RSSI” are displayed in the table. When a wireless network to which theuser desires to make connection is present in this table, the user canselect the network from the list. In this example, the table is scrolledto select “0007406B0BAC” as an SSID. When this SSID is selected, theuser touches an “ENTER” button. The screen returns to the SSID settingscreen shown in FIG. 11 according to this touch. After confirming theset SSID, the user touches the “NEXT” button to complete the setting(step S7). A security mode setting screen [Guide Indication: Securityfunction on Access must match] shown in FIG. 13 is displayed by thistouch (step S8). As shown in FIG. 14, “WPA”, “WPA2”, and “WPA2PSK”buttons are dimly displayed when the old wireless LAN module is mounted.

In this embodiment, six function modes, i.e., “WPA and WPA2”, “WPAPSK,WPAPSK2, and (IEEE)802.1X”, and “WEP” are displayed as encryptionsystems that can be used in the security mode. A mode is selected out ofthese function modes (step S9). In an example explained here, therespective modes are classified into three groups. In the modeselection, at least one mode is selected.

In this mode selection, when “WEP” is selected, a WEP encryption screenshown in FIG. 15 is displayed. In this WEP encryption screen, settingbuttons for a WEP encryption bit length and a WEP key are displayed.When the user appropriately selects and touches these setting buttons,the setting is completed (step S10). After the setting is completed, theuser touches the “NEXT” button. In this example, “64 bit” is selected asthe WEP encryption bit length, “ASCII” is selected as a key format, anda WEP key of several digits is inputted and set.

Next, when the WEP encryption setting is finished, the wireless LANsetting system determines whether a network type already set is“INFRASTRUCTURE” or “AD HOC” (step S11). When the type is set as “ADHOC” in this determination, a transmission power setting screen shown inFIG. 25 is displayed (step S13). In this example, it is possible toselect 100% (a maximum value), 50%, 25%, 12.5%, and MIN (a minimumvalue) with respect to an output value of design specifications. In thisexample, 100% is selected. When this transmission power setting isfinished, the wireless LAN setting system shifts to step S23 (a wirelesssetting confirmation screen) described later. When the type is set in“INFRASTRUCTURE”, the wireless LAN setting system shifts to step S22(selection processing for transmission power and a transmission rate)described later.

When any one of the function modes “WPA and WPA2” shown in FIG. 13 isselected in step S9, a WPA and WPA2 encryption screen [Guide Indication:Select Encryption type and input pass phrase] shown in FIG. 17 isdisplayed. In this encryption screen, “TKIP” and “AES(CCMP)” arepresented as an example. When the user selects “TKIP” as a wirelessencryption system, a different key is given to each packet. Thereafter,the wireless LAN setting system sets a pass phrase for the access point9 and shifts to the determination of a network type in step S11described above. The AES is an encryption system of the next generationthat replaces the present DES and 3DES. In the same manner, the wirelessLAN setting system sets a pass phrase for the access point 9 and shiftsto step S11 described above.

Moreover, when any one of the function modes “WPAPSK, WPAPSK2, and802.1X” shown in FIG. 13 is selected in step S9, an authenticationsystem setting screen [Guide Indication: Select authentication protocol]shown in FIG. 16 is displayed (step S14). In an example of thisauthentication screen, two authentication systems, i.e., “ELT-TLS” and“PEAP” are displayed. The user touches an “ELT-TLS” button toreverse-display and selects the authentication system “ELT-TLS”.Thereafter, when the user touches the “NEXT” button, an EAP user nameinput screen [Guide Indication: Input EAP user name] shown in FIG. 19 isdisplayed (step S16). At this point, a keyboard may be displayed on thedisplay screen to allow the user to input an EAP user name with keyinput. In this input screen, “hoge . . . ” is inputted as an example.

After the input of the user name, when the user touches the “NEXT”button, a user certificate setting screen [Guide Indication: Input theuser certificate file name and password] shown in FIG. 21 is displayed(step S17). In this setting screen, the EAP user name “hogehoge.txt”inputted on the last screen and a password setting space are displayed.The user inputs an arbitrary password in the password setting space anddetermines the password. After this determination, when the user touchesthe “NEXT” button, the wireless LAN setting system shifts to serverauthentication information input processing described later.

When the user touches the “PEAP” button in the authentication system instep S15, an EAP account information input screen [Guide Indication:Input EAP account information] shown in FIG. 18 is displayed (step S18).In this input screen, the user inputs arbitrary numbers or words in “EAPUSER NAME”, “EAP PASSWORD”, and “RETYPE PASS”, respectively, anddetermines the numbers or the words. After determining these kinds ofinformation, when the user touches the “NEXT” button, a CA certificatesetting screen [Guide Indication: Select encoding format and input theCA file name] shown in FIG. 20 is displayed (step S19). With thisscreen, the user performs selection in “ENCODING FORMAT” and inputsetting for “INSTALL CA CERTIFICATE], In this example, “X509DER” isselected as [ENCODING FORMAT] and “hogehoge.txt” is inputted in [INSTALLCA CERTIFICATE]. When a format of [ENCODING FORMAT] is unselected andnothing is inputted in [INSTALL CA CERTIFICATE], “Dim” is displayed inthe section of “NEXT”.

Next, when the user touches the “NEXT” button, a server authenticationinformation input screen [Guide Indication: Input the authenticationsever name] shown in FIG. 22 is displayed (step S20). When the userselects an “ON” button in [FULL AGREEMENT of SEVER NAME] in this screen,the wireless LAN setting system checks whether an inputted RADIUS servername is a server name registered in a server authentication file. Whenthe user selects a “NO” button, the RADIUS server name is dimplydisplayed. The user selects any one of encryption intensities dividedinto three stages. When “PEAP” shown in FIG. 16 is selected, “Dim” isdisplayed in the encryption intensities.

Next, when the user touches the “NEXT” button in FIG. 22, a selectionscreen for encryption systems AP and STA [Guide Indication: Pleasechoose the code system between AP] shown in FIG. 23 is displayed (stepS21). In an example of this selection screen, a “TKIP” button, an“AES(CCMP)” button, and a “Dynamic WEP” button are displayed. When the“TKIP” button is selected, a different key is given to each packetsimultaneously with complete check of a message. When the “AES(CCMP)”button is selected, AES encryption as the encryption system in the nextgeneration described above is selected. Moreover, when the “Dynamic WEP”button is selected, Dynamic WEP encryption is selected. In Dynamic WEP,a WEP key, which is dynamically converted, is given to each intervaldetermined.

Next, when the user touches the “NEXT” button in FIG. 23, a settingscreen for transmission power and a transmission rate [Guide Indication:Please set TRANSMIT POWER and TRANSMIT RATE] shown in FIG. 24 isdisplayed (step S22). In this setting screen, in [TRANSMIT POWER], it ispossible to select 100% (a maximum value), 50%, 25%, 12.5%, and MIN (aminimum value) with respect to an output value of design specifications.In this example, 100% is selected. In [TRANSMIT RATE], the user sets atransmission data volume for information to be wirelessly communicated.Here, the user can select and set an arbitrary fixed rate and anarbitrary automatic rate. When the automatic rate is selected, anappropriate rate is used in accordance with a communication state. Afterthe setting is finished, the user touches the “NEXT” button.

Next, the wireless LAN setting system displays a wireless settingconfirmation screen [Guide Indication: Please set TRANSMIT POWER andTRANSMIT RATE] shown in FIG. 26 (step S23). In this confirmation screen,setting states of the respective setting items are displayed. When theuser touches a “FINISH” button, a series of setting operation isfinished and an end screen shown in FIG. 27 is displayed. When the userdesires to correct the settings, if the user touches a “PREV” button,the settings performed so far are displayed so as to be traced back.

In the end screen shown in FIG. 27, a “YES” button and a “NO” button aredisplayed (step S24). When the user selects the “NO” button, the screenreturns to the setting screen for an administrator shown in FIG. 4. Whenthe user selects the “YES” button, the setting operation in the wirelessLAN setting system is completed and the setting screen changes to theusual menu screen. According to the setting operation described above,the setting for the wireless LAN in the MFP apparatus is finished.

As described above, the setting for the wireless LAN mounted on the MFPapparatus in the past targets users (administrators) having professionalknowledge. Thus, a situation occurs in which, for a user who does notgrasp setting contents, it is difficult to determine whether selectionand setting of setting items are essential or it is impossible to setsetting items. Even if the setting is completed, when wrong setting ismade, a situation occurs in which it is impossible to find out whichpart of the setting is the wrong setting.

On the other hand, in the embodiment of the present invention, since thewireless LAN setting system has the mode for first checking, beforesetting, existing setting contents (setting items and setting states)presently set, it is possible to determine whether the setting isnecessary. Since the guide indications are attached in necessary partsin the respective setting screens, even a user (an administrator) whodoes not have professional knowledge can perform proper determinationand correctly perform setting operation. The guide indications in thisembodiment are only examples. It is also easy to represent the guideindications more in detail or more simply.

Setting procedures for the wireless LAN according to this embodiment ofthe present invention are formed in order of network selection securitysetting and security designation. Thus, it is possible to skip or omitthe procedures by selecting presence or absence of setting. Therefore,it is possible to complete the setting without performing useless scrolland designation operation of the setting screens.

During setting, it is possible to prevent setting mistakes due tomisoperation by dimly displaying buttons unnecessary to be operated on ascreen to disallow the user to select the buttons.

As explained above, according to this embodiment, the user can easilyand properly perform setting in accordance with the procedures by theprogram in which the setting items of the wireless LAN are created inadvance even if the user does not have high degree of backgroundknowledge.

1. A wireless LAN setting system mounted on an image forming apparatusthat performs network connection through a wireless LAN and used forperforming wireless communication with plural terminals, the wirelessLAN system comprising: an existing setting check mode for checking,prior to performing wireless LAN setting, contents already set in theimage forming apparatus; a network type selection mode for selecting anetwork used for the wireless communication; an SSID setting mode forestablishing a predetermined protocol between the image formingapparatus and the plural terminals in the wireless communication; asecurity mode for applying encoding to information to be communicatedand performing wireless communication using a selected encryptionsystem; and a display unit configured to switch and display a settingscreen according to selection of the respective modes.